Here are some ideas to jumpstart your activities when it’s dark outside, or when it’s raining or snowing and you would rather stay home and not watch TV. While there are lots of games for kids you can play indoors, this set is meant for just the two of you, and doesn’t require any special prerequisites to get started. And because you’re a busy parent, you can get started with each one in under 5 minutes.
#1 Hot and cold/treasure hunt game for kids
This popular game for kids is probably known to everyone. Here you hide a small object (it can be a mascot, a treat, a toy or a ball), and other person – the hunter – must find it. I would suggest to hide a few items at once – it makes the game a bit more fun and makes it easier to find things by younger children.
Once you hide the treasure, you invite the hunter to the room and ask her to find it by giving her clues as to “cold, colder, freezing!” when she’s moving away from the location or “warm, warmer, hot” when she’s moving closer. If you have more than one kid – whoever finds the treasure hides it and the fun begins anew. Or you can just swap the roles.
Another variant of this game for older children who can read is to leave clues around the house to eventually find the location on little cards. You start by cutting sheets of paper into smaller squares (or use post-it notes). Then you need to hide an object e.g. in a drawer with cutlery in the kitchen. And, step by step, write instructions on each note that lead to it. For the first step- the first instruction card is given to the hunter, and it can be a drawing of dad’s shoe. Then, there is a card with the washing machine in dad’s shoe. And in the washing machine there is a card of a tv. On the tv, a card with a drawing of a child’s bed. And on the child’s bed, a note showing the cutlery drawer!
#2 Obstacle course game for kids
For this one, you will need a bit of space . Then you set up an obstacle course with chairs, balls, blankets, toys, set rules (where we run, where we crawl, what to touch, what to avoid), and set a stopwatch to see who will complete the track in the shortest time!
#3 Jumps over the ladder
Make a ladder on the floor, e.g. from a newspaper. Just cut it into 2 inch strips, which you will lay on the ground like a ladder. Everyone’s task is to jump through each step all the way through and whoever can jump fastest wins.
#4 Hide and seek
I don’t think this classic game needs any recommendation. Kids love it and if your house is a bit bigger and has a few nooks, this game would be a fantastic idea.
#5 Blowing (and chasing) bubbles
While blowing bubbles sounds pretty relaxing, the moment you ask your kids to chase after them and make sure they pop every single one, this one takes on a different meaning. You really don’t need much to get started. Even if you don’t have a kit for it, you can quickly make one by using a liquid soap, shampoo or a detergent that you mix it in with a small amount of water. Then all you need is any object that you can hold on one end and has a hole you can blow through on the other hand – a key, a wire twisted in such way, etc. What you do then is to dip it into your soapy water mixture, then blow or swing your arms around until the bubbles form.
If you’re looking for additional ideas, see “Classic magazines for kids and parents alike.”